Eurovision fans strike the right note after “Finding Nemo” during chance meeting!

The Council’s Eurovision fans Karl and Andrew Kemp were successful in “Finding Nemo” - this year’s winning act from Switzerland - when they bumped into them in a restaurant ahead of the grand final. 

They said: “We were in a Thai restaurant and Nemo walked in, so we asked if we could have a selfie. Nemo was like ‘love the suits, yes of course, no problem’, so we got our picture taken and thanked them. Little did we know then that we had just met the winner of Eurovision 2024!” 

That chance meeting was the icing on the cake for the Kemps, who enjoyed a nine-day musical extravaganza in Malmo, Sweden. 

“The vibe was electric, everyone was there to have a fab time. It’s a really inclusive event and nobody cares about anything other than the music and to support a country or a song. 

“There were three main areas of festivity in Malmo. The Eurovision Village where anyone can go and listen to live music on three different stages, including local groups and dance clubs as well as some previous and current Eurovision entrants. Then there was Eurovision Street which was well decorated and had lots of bars and restaurants enroute to and from the train station. Finally, there was Malmo Arena with a large open area in front of it with live DJ playing and refreshments, which was a great place to wait before the doors opened for the shows.” 

The couple enjoyed a number of shows in the run-up to the final, at which the UK entry, Olly Alexander was performing “Dizzy”. 

“The shows were amazing, and we experienced them from several angles which was fun. We stood in the mosh pit right by the stage twice which we loved but also sat in the stalls and then in the lounge for two shows as well. We enjoyed the mosh pit as we got so close to the singers and had some amazing pics and high fived them as they came off stage. 

“You also got to see the very slick stage management going on as they changed over for each performance. The scale of lights and technology was amazing, and it was so hot when the fire effects were used during the performances. 

“The final was quite a tense atmosphere compared to the other shows. There were boos at some points given the political tension around Gaza but in general it was still a fantastic show and all of the artists put in their best effort.” 

They explained that the live performances were much better in person than how they may have seemed to some viewers sat at home watching on TV. 

“It was very different in the arena. The sound was amazing, but you are just viewing one angle so it’s great to watch back all the camera angles and to see what you missed. The sound for the UK entry seemed particularly bad on the TV and Olly was so much better live. 

“Olly has a large fan base and he put on a great show for them. Some of the dance moves were very acrobatic and some of them started the song hanging from the ceiling. The staging was very clever, but unfortunately didn’t appeal to a lot of people, but Eurovision is a diverse show, and it continually drives change and acceptance, which is good to see in the mainstream media.” 

For a second year on the trot, the couple attracted the attention of the national media thanks to their colourful and outlandish suits – this time Karl was interviewed for BBC Radio 5 during a live chat.   

Karl, a Senior Social Care Worker at the Council’s Glaitness Centre, and Andrew, Digital Communications Coordinator, say despite “getting on a bit” they partied at the Eurovision nightclub till dawn which is a stand-out memory of Eurovision 2024. 

This year’s event has simply whetted their appetite for 2025! 

“We will await the announcement of the host city for 2025 and book flights and accommodation, then we wait for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 to develop. There will likely be a panic trying to get tickets again, more loud suits, excellent music, disappointing results for some artists, too much fizz and without a doubt more politics and controversy!” 

Eurovision is seen as one of the world’s most inclusive and diverse music events – an annual occasion which happens just ahead of Pride Month in June. 

Both are important to the Kemps.  

“Eurovision has evolved over the years; it is still a song contest but it’s also now a huge event with lots of media attention and build-up before the final night. There is diversity in the music, the staging, the lighting, the artists and the audience. It brings people together from all over the world to enjoy music, have fun and be free to be themselves. It’s a safe place for everyone and that is how life should be and worth remembering as we go into the start of Pride Month.” 

The Council takes pride in being an inclusive employer supporting equality and diversity. The Progress Flag will be flown by OIC on 29 June to mark Pride Month. 

The Kemps say they enjoy sharing their adventures because it’s important for everyone to be represented no matter who they are – which they hope makes others feel less isolated and alone. 

“Too many people have been lost just because they have felt they could never be accepted. The Pride flag and Pride Month gives us the opportunity to say we accept you into our community and even better into our very diverse workforce. Have pride in who you are, we are all different, but just being accepting of all differences is how it should be.”